Mother drowns after heroic effort to save son

Our top story tonight, a mother gives her life to save her child. She drowned while rescuing her four year old son who fell in the ST john's River. The little boy survived because of his mother's brave actions. Thanks for joining us tonight. I'm Larissa Leone. This is a picture of Nicole Grayson from an online fundraiser. The drowning happened yesterday at Ed Stone Park in the land. Fox 35 Stephanie Buffa Monte is live there now. Now, Stephanie, you spoke with the woman's oldest son. I did. He is one of six and they are all devastated. He said that his mom was here at Ed Stone Park with his three youngest siblings. He says they were fishing when she had to rescue his little brother from the water. It cost her her life. But he says now she is being remembered as a hero. That's the type of mom she was like she would do anything to save her kids and that's what she did. That's the type of mom she was. She was a hero. She loved all her kids to death. We did. We love her to death too. We would do the same thing for her. Defino de Vega is holding on to memories of his mom, Nicole Grayson, a mother who lost her life trying to save her youngest son. He says she was fishing with his little brother saturday when one of them fell into the ST john's River. My three year old little brother, he drops, I guess he something dropping the water that he had tore something and um I guess he was trying to get it. He slipped in the water, he slipped away in the water and then my mom, I guess she panicked and she, she, she ran the water and try to save him and mother's instinct kicking in without question, Grayson jumped in to save her son's life. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office says after Grayson went into the water, a witness flagged down a boater who threw life preservers to her and her four year old investigators say Grayson kept her little boy above the water as she began to drown. The boater was able to pull the four year old to safety and a good samaritan swam to reach Grayson and bring her back to the boat. She was rushed to the hospital where she died. She drowned saving trying to save my little brother and stuff and it was he was heartbroken like and my mom, she was a strong woman. She, she, she, she would do anything to keep her kids safe and she did, she fought hard. Her family sharing these photos on an online fundraiser saying she was caring, supportive, selfless and always willing to sacrifice her time to make sure her Children had everything they needed. Now her six Children are left to move forward without the woman. They say always put them first up until her final breath. She was my number one supporter. Yeah, see, I don't know what I'm gonna do without her now, man. It's heartbroken. I just wish you would have stayed home. Truly, truly heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to their family. They did set up a go fund me page to help with funeral expenses and also expenses as they navigate this new life without their mom reporting live into land. Stephanie Buff Monte Fox 35 News.